Réamhaisnéis limistear na farraige
Forecast valid from: 00:00, Thursday 16 April 2026 until 00:00, Friday 17 April 2026
Small Craft Warning
1. Southwest to west winds will reach force 6 or higher on all Irish coasts for a time overnight becoming confined to Irish coasts from Loop Head to Malin Head to Carlingford Lough on Thursday morning.
2. Southerly winds will reach force 6 on Irish coasts from Roches Point to Loop Head to Bloody Foreland on Thursday afternoon, extending to all Irish coasts on Thursday evening and Thursday night.
Gale Warning
Nil
Atlantic Swell
On western and southwestern coasts overnight and Thursday morning.
Meteorological Situation at 21:00 UTC
Ireland lies in a mostly fresh to near gale force south to southwest airflow, generated by a broad and complex low in the mid-Atlantic. Various frontal toughs are embedded in the flow. A weak, transient ridge of high pressure will build over Ireland overnight ahead of a developing low to the southwest.
Small Craft Warning: In effect
Heavy Swell (>4m) : yes
Forecast for Howth Head to Hook Head to Valentia and for the South Irish Sea
Wind: Southwest to west force 6 or 7 and gusty, imminent decreasing southwest force 4 or 5. Soon backing southwest to south. Gradually increasing southerly force 5 to 7 and gusty by the end of period.
Weather: Fair to cloudy with scattered showers becoming isolated. Cloud, rain, drizzle and mist spreading from the south-west later.
Visibility: Reducing moderate or poor in precipitation, mist. Otherwise good.
Forecast for Valentia to Erris Head to Malin Head
Wind: Mainly southwest to west force 5 or 6 and gusty. Imminent decreasing force 4 to 6. Soon backing southwest to south. Later increasing southerly force 5 to 7 and gusty.
Weather: Fair to cloudy with scattered showers becoming isolated. Cloud, rain, drizzle and mist spreading from the south-west later.
Visibility: Reducing moderate or poor in precipitation, mist. Otherwise good.
Forecast for Malin Head to Belfast Lough to Howth Head and for the North Irish Sea
Wind: South to southwest force 4 to 6, but force 6 or 7 and gusty on the north Irish Sea. Imminent veering southwest force 4 to 6. Soon decreasing force 4 or 5. Later increasing south to southeast force 4 to 6.
Weather: Fair to cloudy with scattered showers becoming isolated. Cloud, rain, drizzle and mist spreading from the south-west later.
Visibility: Reducing moderate or poor in precipitation, mist. Otherwise good.
Outlook for a further 24 hours until 00:00, Saturday 18 April 2026
Fresh to near gale southerly winds increasing to gale force in the west and northwest for a time Friday morning and early afternoon. Winds veering southwest to west on Friday evening and decreasing moderate to strong. Weather; Rain, drizzle and mist clearing eastwards Friday morning followed by fair to cloudy conditions and scattered showers. Showers turning heavy and prolonged at times in the northwest.
Forecast issued at: 00:00, Thursday 16 April 2026
All times are local unless specified
